"It's interesting that they've had to appoint someone like Steven Joyce when John Key has expressed confidence in Hekia Parata already, and I guess it begs the question, how much confidence the Prime Minister has over the Minister of Education.

"It's a pretty clear signal the ministers and also associate ministers aren't doing a good job, and I'm not sure how Steven Joyce is going to fix something which he has no control over either."

Novopay issues continued to surface in Kapiti schools over the holiday break, with Paekakariki School finding two mishaps in last week's pay.

Principal John Masson said one problem in particular bewildered staff. "It's just something that [has] come out of left field. It's a payment of a staff member who hasn't worked for us for over two years. It's frustrating for the school, my staff and myself, and someone has to sort it out because it's still not working."

Ms Parata said the government shares the concerns of teachers about Novopay's continuing problems and said Mr Joyce would offer a "fresh set of eyes" while trying to solve Novopay issues.

"Minister Joyce has a strong commercial background and significant experience in IT systems, and that's what Novopay is," she said.